Insurance refused because of no MOT

Donnyhiab

Absolutely...the vehicle could be a death trap!!!! Eh Hang on a wee minute, how do I get it to an MOT station?

My motorcycle comes off the road under SORN perfectly legally every Highland winter, but remains fully insured so that come the spring, I check it over and service it, then ride it to the testing station for an MOT, then home to TAX it.

All perfectly legal with an arranged MOT appointment at my nearest MOT station ( 25 miles away...well it is the Highlands)

Last year the weather and working 640 miles from home conspired to make me miss the MOT date, in fact I didnt have time to look at the bike all year.
Thus insurance time came and the brokers (Premier Choice) called asking if I wished to renew. I had a good deal and had been with them 6 years with the same motorcycle, so I said yes please!
No problem sir, just a few questions, all went well till I mentioned the MOT had lapsed. Underwriters wont cover you sir!..Why not? they did last year! ....rules have changed sir! How can I take it to an MOT station then? Not our problem sir! But you are a broker, find me an insurer please! Sorry Sir none of ours will insure you! But its perfectly legal and wouldn't be going for an MOT if it wasnt fit to Pass, but I need to keep it insured. SorryI've been with you 6 years, never a claim, not in 30 years of biking! Sorry How can I protect my investment ( £9.5K its a Harley) cant help you sir!

SO how many others out there are having the same problem, It cant just be me? Lots of people put machines off the road in the winter.
Where can we find an insurer that will cover my motorcycle against fire and theft while locked in its garage cocooned for winter and then be able to ride out for an MOT when the summer comes?

PS I've already tried several of the big names....same result...something to do with rules changing this year. Whats going on??:mad:

marlot

I haven't come across this problem before. As you say, you need insurance to ride to an MOT.

I guess the alternative is to get the bike shop to pick it up - maybe they have a trailer?

I used to take my bike for its MOT in the autumn - so meaning that I could just get going when I wanted in the spring. You may have to start doing the same?

timbo58

Sounds like your present insurers haven't a clue what they're doing.
If it's a classic bike (or even if not) try the real experts: carole nash or footman james, or whomever sponsors your bikes club if you have a preferred insurer.

You can insure anything with or without an MOT if you go to a specialist, many of my mates have project bikes that haven't been Mot'd in 30+ years (or taxed as they're exempt anyway) but they are still insured.

vikingaero

The Insurance Broker is a numbnut and subscribes to the pub folklore that No MOT = No Insurance. I would take this opportunity to move to someone more knowledgeable.

There are many Insurance/Financial Ombudsman cases in which judgement has been upheld against jobsworths in Insurance claims departments.

Donnyhiab

Marlot, I won't be stuck though you will struggle to find a Bike MOT station that can uplift in the Highlands. Most disappeared after the last big shake up cost to much money to upgrade equipment.
I dont want to ride a Full Dress Electra Glide up a ramp onto a trailer at 55! 45 I would have chanced It but not now!
Changing dates is fine, unfortunate its anniversary was February and the last two winters were exceptionally bad.
But who covers it even for Fire and Theft while I wait till I can get home to do anything ( still working away from Home for weeks on end).

Timbo , cheers but these guys were supposed to be a bike specialist, started out as "Bikesure" then renamed themselves "Premium Choice". Bennets have also said no as well! So now I've technically been refused insurance ....after 37 claim free years!
I'm getting annoyed with the whole system.

Vikinggaero... !!!!!! agreed, including 3 " advisors" 2 promised to call back once doing some "research" still waiting! 2 Supervisors ( once I made an issue of it) I even offered to pay an increase, I couldn't believe after 6 years of my business they were refusing to take my money.

Donnyhiab

Just checked Harley's own insurance ( Carole Nash run) guess what , in the small print, Motorcycle requires to have MOT'd if applicable!

vaio

as others have mentioned there is no way the FOS would allow an insurer to not pay a claim purely because of lack of MOT

Having said that, it doesn't really help you as i don't think that rule applies to issuing a new policy where they can issue or not for any reason they see fit.

all you can really do is look around until you find a company that doesn't ask about MOT status, and certainly don't volunteer anything, just answer the questions they ask

mikey72

Donnyhiab wrote: »

..............So now I've technically been refused insurance ....after 37 claim free years!
I'm getting annoyed with the whole system.

Vikinggaero... !!!!!! agreed, including 3 " advisors" 2 promised to call back once doing some "research" still waiting! 2 Supervisors ( once I made an issue of it) I even offered to pay an increase, I couldn't believe after 6 years of my business they were refusing to take my money.

You haven't been refused insurance.
They have declined to quote for your vehicle, (based on the mot) which is different, and not an issue to be declared.

MarkyMarkD

Donnyhiab wrote: »

Changing dates is fine, unfortunate its anniversary was February and the last two winters were exceptionally bad.

I don't think you got what was being said. So what that your MOT renewal date is February - get another one in September just before you tuck the bike up for the winter. Simples.

MOTs are not very expensive for bikes.

paddedjohn

OP, go online for a quote, ive never been asked if my van/car/scoot were mot'd as a condition of acceptence.

Donnyhiab

Padded John, your comment is probably correct, they dont ask in the online but it mentions in the small print that lack of it makes insurance invalid.

Re-scheduling the MOT is on the cards anyway, but problem was trying to get the time scheduled. As I mentioned before, there is a lack of centres now in the Highlands that can handle Bikes.

Weekends are no use as too busy to get appointment and I work away for up to Months at a time. Thats why it got missed in the first place.

Latest is Carole Nash will insure it if I insure on the day of the MOT appointment ( it then becomes invalid if it fails haha) but they wont insure it in storage for Fire and Theft unless its pre 1982 ( its a 1999).
They're specialists but have no solution!